Deputies: Stolen change jams machine at Bi-Lo in Union, leads to arrest of three suspects

From staff reports

Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 4:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 4:53 p.m.

A jammed change machine at a grocery store helped Union officers track down suspects thought to have broken into a resident's home on Tuesday.

Wendell Brannon, 29, of 121 Woodlawn Ave., Union; Latevin Brannon, 21, of 439 Eisontown Road, Jonesville; and Markese Gregory, 19, of 112 Glenn Lane, Jonesville; have been charged by the Union County Sheriff's Office with first-degree burglary and grand larceny, according to a written statement.

Sheriff's deputies responded to a Bird Street home on Tuesday and spoke to the resident, who said he returned home at about 7:30 a.m. to find the back door had been forced open. Taken from the home were a men's gold watch, a silver watch, assorted jewelry, a 47-inch TV and $700 in change, according to deputies.

Union Public Safety officers also received a call that the change machine inside Bi-Lo had been vandalized. Deputies responded with Union Public Safety officers and spoke to an employee about the vandalism to the machine, officers said.

The employee stated that three men came into the store with a large amount of loose change with leaves it, causing the change machine to jam. While on the scene, deputies reviewed the video and identified one suspect as Wendell Brannon, according to the sheriff's office.

After the machine jammed, Bi-Lo employees told the suspects to come back at 11 a.m. to pick up their money because they would have to fix the machine jam. At about 10:30 a.m., store employees told officers that the suspects had returned to the store, and deputies were able to stop the suspects.

The driver of the car gave consent to search the vehicle, and officers found the gold watch under a baby seat located in the back near where Wendell Brannon was sitting, according to the sheriff's office. The victim identified the watch as being the one stolen from his home.

All the stolen items, valued at more than $2,000, were recovered.

Gregory, Wendell Brannon and Latevin Brannon have been denied bond and remain at the Union County jail.

<p>A jammed change machine at a grocery store helped Union officers track down suspects thought to have broken into a resident's home on Tuesday.</p><p>Wendell Brannon, 29, of 121 Woodlawn Ave., Union; Latevin Brannon, 21, of 439 Eisontown Road, Jonesville; and Markese Gregory, 19, of 112 Glenn Lane, Jonesville; have been charged by the Union County Sheriff's Office with first-degree burglary and grand larceny, according to a written statement.</p><p>Sheriff's deputies responded to a Bird Street home on Tuesday and spoke to the resident, who said he returned home at about 7:30 a.m. to find the back door had been forced open. Taken from the home were a men's gold watch, a silver watch, assorted jewelry, a 47-inch TV and $700 in change, according to deputies.</p><p>Union Public Safety officers also received a call that the change machine inside Bi-Lo had been vandalized. Deputies responded with Union Public Safety officers and spoke to an employee about the vandalism to the machine, officers said.</p><p>The employee stated that three men came into the store with a large amount of loose change with leaves it, causing the change machine to jam. While on the scene, deputies reviewed the video and identified one suspect as Wendell Brannon, according to the sheriff's office.</p><p>After the machine jammed, Bi-Lo employees told the suspects to come back at 11 a.m. to pick up their money because they would have to fix the machine jam. At about 10:30 a.m., store employees told officers that the suspects had returned to the store, and deputies were able to stop the suspects.</p><p>The driver of the car gave consent to search the vehicle, and officers found the gold watch under a baby seat located in the back near where Wendell Brannon was sitting, according to the sheriff's office. The victim identified the watch as being the one stolen from his home. </p><p>All the stolen items, valued at more than $2,000, were recovered.</p><p>Gregory, Wendell Brannon and Latevin Brannon have been denied bond and remain at the Union County jail.</p>